Chapter XXIV: Before the Board

At ten o’clock the following morning Nash was ushered into the big directors’ room, where the governing board of aqueduct engineers was to pass judgment.

The two detectives had brought him into San Fernando by automobile, and they had been just in time to catch the last train to Los Angeles. Despite the cloud which hung over his head, Nash had been treated with the utmost consideration.

Very little sleep came to him in the few remaining hours of the night. He was well aware of the serious situation, and tried to fix upon some definite method of procedure. The examining board would expect him to defend himself. He resolved to tell the whole truth, from the very day he discovered the letter in the book of verse to the present. As for proofs, one way or another, he could offer nothing better than his word.

It was a beautiful, balmy morning when he walked down Spring Street in the custody of the two detectives, a morning such as only Los Angeles can boast of--tempered by ocean breezes, and with the air heavy with the perfume of orange blossoms. Nash drank deep of the sunshine; how marvelous it seemed; doubly so now, when his liberty might be but a question of----

Before they reached the new city hall on South Broadway a half dozen newspaper men were trailing them; a camera or two appeared. Somehow, the news of Nash’s arrest and the expected upheaval in Camp Forty-seven had reached the ears of the vigilant press.

The chimes on the city-hall tower were striking eleven when Nash finally took the seat set aside for him in the big directors’ room. The majority of the engineers were gathered about the long table, waiting.

Nash was surprised to see at the far end the familiar face of Jim Sigsbee. The politician had evidently decided to forego his proposed trip to San Francisco and remain on the scene.

The preliminaries were brief and to the point.

“Our private detective in this affair, Miss Breen, has not shown up,” the spokesman of the board announced gravely, “but we can proceed. The prisoner is probably aware of the nature of the crime for which he has been arrested.”

Nash admitted that he understood.

The president of the board continued: “What have you to say in your defense, Mr. Nash?”

Nash got to his feet and calmly faced the assembly.

“Upon my arrival in this city, gentlemen, I happened upon a letter directed to a Mr. Hooker, at that time the foreman of Camp Forty-seven. The man to whom the note was issued did not care for the position. As no names were mentioned, I took the letter, gave it to Mr. Hooker, and was engaged.”

“This letter,” interrupted the president, “was written by whom?”

“By Mr. Sigsbee.”

Finding himself the center of all eyes, Sigsbee nodded.

“I remember giving a letter to a man who claimed to be an Eastern engineer,” he explained. “He pleaded so hard for a position that I offered him a chance on Camp Forty-seven.”

Nash was asked to continue.

“I began in the camp as a sort of clerk,” he said. “After a week, because I proved my value, I was made a subforeman, and given charge of the conduit construction. One day, when Mr. Hooker was--ill, I helped the city inspector check over the pay roll. Having kept a memorandum of my own, I found it differed from the foreman’s statement to the extent of being just about half of the amount that----”

Sigsbee was instantly upon his feet.

“That’s a lie, gentlemen!” he cried. “You all know me better than that. Why, it was at my instigation that this engineer was charged with----”

Nash ignored the politician’s interruption and continued his remarks directly to the president. “When I threatened to inform the authorities of the truth, Mr. Hooker asked me to call upon Mr. Sigsbee. I did so. Mr. Sigsbee, instead of discharging me, as I had expected, admitted things were not as they should be, placed the blame on his foreman’s shoulders, and offered me the position, with the understanding that I should be directly responsible, and that Camp Forty-seven was to be forever above suspicion.”

The engineers were paying close attention, and appeared to be convinced of Nash’s statements. Sigsbee was still on his feet, and when Nash had finished he spoke again.

“Gentlemen,” he began smilingly, “you have all known me, most of you, for the past ten years. You all know how faithfully I have worked that this great waterway might be made an actuality. The insinuations just now cast upon myself and upon the affairs of Camp Forty-seven are absurd. I was attracted to Mr. Nash by his apparent knowledge of engineering matters, his earnestness, and the fact that he was a native of this city. Mr. Hooker was ill, and had long before asked for a vacation. I considered it my opportunity, and made the change. There were no hard feelings at all, I can assure you. I would like to ask Mr. Nash, if I may, what proofs he is prepared to offer to substantiate his claims.”

Nash realized his helplessness. Sigsbee must have known, too, otherwise he would never have asked the question.

“I have no proofs, gentlemen,” he declared, “other than my word.”

Sigsbee smiled, and sat down. The president nodded for the engineer to resume.

“I accepted the position as foreman of Camp Forty-seven, and since then have worked faithfully in the discharge of my duties. The specifications given me by Mr. Sigsbee have been followed to the letter. I had no suspicions as to the trick being played upon me until Miss Breen arrested me last night.”

“What trick was played upon you?” asked the president.

“Changing the specifications,” Nash answered. “False ones were given me. I followed them. When I attempted to prove my innocence to Miss Breen I found they had been taken and the rightful ones substituted.”

“Did those specifications come from the board, Mr. Sigsbee?” the president inquired.

“Certainly, sir,” Sigsbee nodded. “If I am not mistaken, they are now in Mr. Nash’s cabin, on file. Are they not, Mr. Nash?”

“They were placed there some time yesterday afternoon, by Mr. Hooker,” Nash responded.

Sigsbee looked around at the circle of anxious faces and shook his head. “Did you ever hear of a more absurd statement, gentlemen?” he asked solicitously. “Why, the thing is farcical!”

By their expressions, the men about the table seemed to agree with Sigsbee. The president spoke again, after the interval:

“I suppose, Mr. Nash, you have proofs to substantiate these claims against Mr. Sigsbee?”

“As the false specifications are gone, I am unable to give you any,” Nash responded. “Mr. Sigsbee and his confederate, Mr. Hooker, have planned a shrewd game, and have left few loopholes. As the matter stands at the present I am helpless.”

Sigsbee was upon his feet instantly, his cheeks flaming. “I won’t stand for such insinuations!” he roared. “I won’t stand for a man of Mr. Nash’s reputation to----”

The president of the board put up his hand. “Just a moment, Mr. Sigsbee,” he cautioned. “I think we can straighten out this matter with the aid of these new witnesses.”

The door had opened. Every eye in the room instantly turned. Miss Breen and Hooker advanced into the room and were seated.

Miss Breen and Hooker! Nash felt the hot blood mount to his temples. So she had gone over to the other side! He knew she must do so, yet, deep in his heart, he hoped----

Miss Trask, or Miss Breen, as she was known to all the men in the room, save one, did not look in Nash’s direction. She appeared unusually pale and concerned.

“We have been waiting for you, Miss Breen,” the president announced. “Our evidence appears to be somewhat confused. Will you kindly state your knowledge of the affair to the board?”

Miss Trask arose, facing the president. Her voice was low and evenly pitched, and never once did she falter.

“I became acquainted with Mr. Nash through an accident, and in his company, later, I was taken around the camp. One day he allowed me to inspect the steel sections on the Soledad Siphon. Unknown to him, I measured the steel, and later on compared the measurements with the specifications. It was then I learned the truth; that the steel he had been using was a quarter of an inch too thin. I then reported the facts.”

Nash listened eagerly. Miss Trask’s declaration explained her actions and questions that day when he had willingly guided her about the camp.

“Have you any answer to make, Mr. Nash?” the president asked.

“None whatever,” Nash answered quietly. “Miss Breen has told you the whole truth. I have not denied that my steel was a quarter of an inch too thin.”

For the smallest part of a minute Miss Trask allowed her eyes to rest upon him. Nash’s heart responded. Was it possible that he could read within those depths a message of----

Hooker was called upon. The president handed him a copy of the true specifications.

“These are similar to the ones you delivered to Mr. Nash?”

Hooker nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Mr. Nash claims you changed the copies yesterday afternoon,” the president declared. “That you took the false ones and substituted these.”

“Such an idea never entered my head,” replied Hooker.

“Where were you yesterday afternoon?”

“I was in Camp Forty-seven for about an hour.”

“To see whom?”

“Mr. Nash. He was out. I waited around a short time and finally left in Mr. Sigsbee’s machine.”

Sigsbee was plainly nervous. His fingers were drumming upon his chair arm, and he shifted about uncomfortably.

“Where did you go from Camp Forty-seven?” the president asked.

“Up the usual road.”

“But you only arrived in Los Angeles this morning, I understand.”

“Yes, sir. About two miles below the camp my gasoline tank sprang a leak, and I was forced to spend the night at the Elkhorn Ranch.”

“That is where Miss Breen is staying, is it not?”

“Yes, sir. She came in with me this morning.”

Sigsbee was ready to interrupt once more. He seemed particularly anxious to have Hooker silent.

“Gentlemen of the board,” he began impressively, “it seems to me that all the necessary arguments have been heard. Miss Breen has testified, and also Mr. Hooker. Both parties are known to you, and you must be forced to admit that the claims suggested by Mr. Nash are not alone preposterous, but impossible as well.”

The president nodded, and many of the others did the same.

“Then I move that we hold Mr. Nash guilty of the charges brought against him, and turn him over for trial before the proper authorities,” Sigsbee resumed.

The president of the board hesitated a moment. “There are a number of points which do not seem quite clear to me as they stand, but which will probably come to light during the trial. However, to me, at least, Mr. Nash appears to be prompt with his answers, and, to all appearances, telling a straightforward story. Of course, his word, against----”

Sigsbee interrupted. “One moment, if I may. It seems that Mr. Nash is unable to give us any proofs as to the existence of these so-called frauds, and perhaps, if we are to weigh his words with any consideration at all, we might ask him why he left a responsible position in New York and came here to Los Angeles, willing to accept a minor one.”

Nash’s fingers clenched themselves. He had been fearing that question, not so much because of himself as because of Miss Trask.

“When we are to consider a man’s word, and weigh it conscientiously,” Sigsbee went on to say, “we ought to convince ourselves that his past is one to warrant it.”

He turned directly to Nash.

“Perhaps you will tell us why you left the New York Aqueduct so abruptly, Mr. Nash?”

“That has nothing to do with the charge you are bringing against me,” Nash answered hotly.

“Oh, hasn’t it?” Sigsbee sneered. “Well, perhaps the gentlemen of this board will think differently. Perhaps you do not relish the idea of telling them that you are a murderer! That you left New York to escape paying the penalty.”